ADHD in the News - May 16, 2013

A weekly news digest** from the National Resource Center on ADHD: A Program of CHADD

"The most comprehensive report on specific mental disorders in children shows attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed problem in kids aged 3-17, with close to 7 percent of kids having a diagnosis. Another 3.5 percent have behavioral problems, 3 percent have anxiety and 1.1 percent have autism. For teenagers, addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco are the most common issues, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday. These percentages translate into millions of children, said CDCís Ruth Perou, who put the study together. She found that 6.8 percent of U.S. children have ADHD. ďThatís about 4.18 million children,Ē Perou told NBC News..." Full Story

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its first comprehensive report on the mental health of children from 2005 to 2011. A host of mental health disorders was monitored to improve public understanding of how children between the ages of 3 and 17 are affected by the debilitating aspects the disorders demand. Researchers surveyed families, children, and medical records to analyze disorders including depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and Tourette syndrome, among others..." Full Story

Can Breastfeeding Protect from ADHD? (PsychCentral, May 15, 2013)

"While it has been known that breastfeeding enhances child development and protects from disease, a new study now suggests breastfeeding can also convey positive mental development for infants. Specifically, breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood..." Full Story

"Parent- and teacher-reported rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder do not appear to overestimate the true prevalence of the condition, according to a new analysis of a large children's health study. The ADHD prevalence in California was found to be about 6% among children 4 to 17, and 4.7% among insured children ages 5 to 11, using teacher and parent reports, Susanna N. Visser, MS, of the CDC, and co-authors found..." Full Story

"People with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who take certain medications over long periods may develop changes in their brains that ultimately impact their ability to respond to the drugs, a new study suggests...While some researchers have speculated that people with ADHD naturally have more dopamine transporters in their brains, the new study suggests that the high numbers are a result of treatment with medications, said study researcher Dr. Gene-Jack Wang, of Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y..." Full Story

ADHD & Kids: 9 Tips to Tame Tantrums (PsychCentral, May 14, 2013)

"In kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsivity manifests in many different ways...When your child has a tantrum, especially in public, it can be tough to know how to respond. Some parents vacillate from one extreme to another, from placating their child and giving in to punishing them and getting angry, according to Matlen. But while it might seem impossible, you can navigate the rocky road of tantrums. Here are expert strategies to prevent tantrums or tame them when they start..." Full Story